Xanax, a benzodiazepine, is being abused more and more frequently in today’s society. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the estimated number of emergency room visits involving nonmedical use of benzodiazepines increased 89 percent nationwide between 2004 and 2008 and continues to rise. The effects of Xanax abuse can cause severe…
Alcohol Sensors: A New Approach to Fight Drunk Driving
An innovative idea can possibly decrease the number of drunk drivers hitting the road. President of British Neuroscience Association and a professor at Imperial College, David Nutt, proposed that all drivers should breathe into an alcohol sensor to check their intoxication level in order to drive their car. For someone with an alcohol problem, this…
The High Stakes of Addiction
The High Stakes of Addiction Many people struggle with addiction. Addicts become prisoners to their drug of choice, going through great lengths to attain the next high. Addicts will engage in high risk behaviors and activities that can put them in danger or harm. They believe that they are not affecting anyone; however, everyone close…
Lesson on Addiction: Loving your Child to Death
Lesson on Addiction: Loving your Child to Death Erin Brockovich became well known for being a legal clerk and environmental activist. Her story about bringing Pacific Gas and Electric to justice for contaminating water affecting a small California town was made into a movie and was nominated for several Academy Awards. Erin Brockovich accomplished so…
Marijuana Abuse: Stepping Stone to Addiction
From the white picket fences of suburban America to the streets of urban jungles, marijuana is everywhere. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the United States. Since marijuana is so easily accessible, one can find a soccer mom enjoying fresh pot brownies or an…
Prescription Drugs: A Justifiable High?
In southwest Florida, the mother of a kindergartner named Hope is in court fighting to keep her daughter from foster care after allegations were brought up against her regarding substance abuse in the home. Her voice quivers as she fights back tears and says “I quit using for my daughter. She’s my whole world right…
5 Self-Esteem Building Skills Taught in Drug Rehab
Webster’s Dictionary defines self-esteem as confidence and satisfaction with oneself. Drug and alcohol addiction causes many addicts to lose their self-esteem through poor choices and judgment. After completing drug rehab, addicts begin to feel better about themselves and, with time and consistency in behavior, self-esteem grows. Self-Esteem Self-esteem is learned and encouraged in childhood through…
Alcohol Awareness Every Month
Alcohol awareness should be every month, not just designated months. It seems that more treatment centers rather than society are in tune with the alcohol awareness months. Alcohol statistics continue to grow and various resources report these stats for us to gain knowledge about. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that regular drinkers…
How to Stop Running In Circles
How to Stop Running In Circles Circle is one of those words that can have several interpretive meanings. Webster’s dictionary defines circle as, “a closed plane curve every point which is equidistant from a fixed point within a curve”. A circle has no edges and is infinite and can be exhausting if you get stuck…
The Anti-Addiction Pill vs. Substance Abuse Treatment
The Anti-Addiction Pill vs. Substance Abuse Treatment Imagine how simple life would be if an anti-addiction pill were readily available. Such a pill would make it difficult to continue being an active user because the parts of the brain that are altered by drugs and alcohol would no longer be accessible to substances. In the…
